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Typically elementary teachers earn between $34,000 and $79,000 per year, though some school districts pay far more to their top-performing teachers. The average teacher salary is around $53,000 per year across the United States—or $61,000 for a teacher with a master's degree.

Elementary school teachers who hold master's degrees have starting salaries 10 to 15 percent higher than a teacher holding a bachelor's degree, and salary caps are generally extended several years longer for masters-level teachers. The extra two years of college to get an Master's in Education really pay off!

If you think you might want to be an assistant principal someday (and earn more than $100,000 per year), getting a master's in education should be high on your list of things to do. Many school administrators and leaders hold PhD or EdD (Doctorate in Education) degrees. Doctoral degree holders develop elementary school curriculum and perform vital research that helps other teachers do their jobs more effectively.

Highest Paid Elementary Teachers, By Region

Remember, teachers with master's degrees earn 10 to 15 percent more than the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports for average salaries—the advanced degree boosts your career.

School teachers on the East Coast are generally paid more than their counterparts in other places. Rhode Island's average salary is $68,500 per year, topping the list of states, and Connecticut, New York, and Washington D.C. are also in the top five. Alaska comes in second with average salaries of $68,000. Nassau-Suffolk, NY metropolitan school district reports the highest annual salaries for elementary teachers at $83,000 a year.

There are currently more than 1.5 million elementary school teachers in the United States and Texas, New York and Illinois are the largest employers. Southern and western states are expecting more rapid growth in demand for elementary teachers in the next ten years.

Demand for elementary teachers who have specialized in math and science is definitely on the rise.

Salary information is drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Complete information is available from http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm.

Find out more about "What You Might Study in a Master's of Elementary Education (MEd) Program", or browse through all education degrees here.

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